FNC to mark 41st anniversary on Tuesday

The Federal National Council (FNC) will mark its 41st anniversary on Tuesday, as one of the fifth constitutional Authority witnessing the development of the march of parliamentary life in the country and contributing in promoting the political participation in the decision-making process.

The FNC since its foundation in 1972, helped effectively in the overall sustainable development through practicing its legislative, monitoring and political role and discussing the citizens' issues, their needs as well as enhancing investment in human resource development and infrastructure. It also adopted national issues in various parliamentary events, launching objective initiatives aimed at supporting GCC, Arab and international parliamentary work, thanks to the support of the wise leadership and the citizens' keenness to participate in the march of building and development.

The experience managed to present a special model in the democratic practices, where the march of parliamentary participation and work in the UAE, characterised by awareness was derived after keeping the country's needs, and highlighted clearly the great achievements in empowering the FNC, especially as its foundation coincided with the beginning of the Union's march by its founders, who exerted efforts and time to make it successful. - Emirates News Agency, WAM

Chairman of the organising committee for the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2013) Major General Obaid Al Ketbi said yesterday IDEX is the only tri-service exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the most strategically important defence exhibition in the world, providing the optimum business environment for international solution providers across land, sea and air sectors.

The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, from 17 to 21 February, 2013 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) with Tawazun as the Headline Sponsor.

''Abu Dhabi hosting of IDEX and Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) over the last two decades promotes Abu Dhabi's standing in the international exhibition industry given its successful strategic investment in defence industries and advanced technology in consistence with its quest for economic diversification under the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030,'' Al Ketbi said at a press conference he held at the Armed Forces Officers Club to announce the launch of 11th IDEX.

''The UAE policy, crafted by the wise leadership, adopts the safe and peaceful co-existence approach for its citizens and residents living on its land,'' he said, stressing that organisation of the international biennial event highlights the State's commitment to security, safety and stability of the region and its firmed policy of respect for others.

As the leading defence event for region, IDEX 2011 attracted over 60,000 attendees and 1,060 exhibitors from 52 countries.

This year, he said, 1,112 companies representing 59 countries and 38 national pavilions will occupy an exhibiting area of 124,000 square metres at the twin event IDEX and NAVIDEX.

The UAE, he added, will host the largest country pavilion at this year's IDEX with more than 147 UAE-based companies.

For the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX), Al Ketbi said 80 companies had registered, taking up a collective 6000 square metres of exhibition space dedicated to NAVDEX and unmanned systems.

The expanded quay wall will host 9 visiting vessels as opposed to only three on display in 2011.

The Unmanned Systems Area will bring together manufacturers and suppliers to showcase the latest and future unmanned systems and technology.

The head of IDEX organising committee said the second Gulf Defence Conference (GDC), the official conference of IDEX 2013, and will take place Saturday, February 16th at the Armed Forces Officers Club, Abu Dhabi.

Organised by the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), the GDC is a key opportunity for Abu Dhabi to host industry and government thought leaders addressing critical areas of industry development.

Leading the conference with keynote speeches will be France’s Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian and the British Deputy Minister of Defence for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne.

Al Ketbi said the conference will be split into three main themes covering New Paradigms in Land Warfare, Future Air Power Transformations and Naval Force Projection and Future Maritime Operations.

''IDEX Grand Opening Ceremony preparations are on track as scheduled. Top military commanders, VIPs, leaders of world business community and defence industry will attend the opening event. More than 77 defence ministers, 79 top commanders and chiefs of staff and military delegates from 82 countries were invited for the glittering launch of 11th IDEX,'' he said.

The Ministerial Council for Services which met on Sunday under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, approved the draft law after re-studying and revising the amendments in the current organisational structure of the National Media Council (NMC).

The new structure included a number of amendments in line with the terms of references assigned to the council as well as its approved plans.

The council also approved the special report on the number of students admitted in the federal universities and colleges for the first semester of 2012–2013, according to the report prepared by the Audit Bureau, which includes registration of 39,223 students.

The council was also briefed on a number of financial reports, including the report on the unified financial statistics for the third quarter of 2012, which showed the country’s financial efficiency, in the state of proportions of income and expenditure and results of financial data during the same period for various governmental levels in the country and its distribution according to the different sectors. - Emirates News Agency, WAM

UAE Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi has stressed the importance of boosting the investment and trade ties between the UAE and Ethiopia, especially in the attractive vital sectors that support the development.

Sheikha Lubna was speaking, while meeting the President of Ethiopia, Girma Wolde-Giorgis in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The UAE minister led the UAE delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony of Julphar Plant there. Also present were Sheikh Saqr bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of Julphar, Ethiopia Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Tedros Adhanom and Dr Yousif Eissa Hassan Alsabri, UAE Ambassador to Ethiopia Sheikha Lubna said the UAE is looking forward to strengthening its economic and investment ties with Ethiopia, a move she noted "translated the foreign relations' vision in Africa".

She added that the success of the diversification policies has qualified the UAE to further make use of its strategic location in addition to the UAE's advanced infrastructure, noting that these factors have catapulted the UAE to be the international trade hub.

The UAE minister noted that the expansion of the UAE investment areas in Ethiopia comes in the context of efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, whose great interest lies in the African continent and many of the world's emerging economies.

For his part, the Ethiopian President praised the UAE's keenness on bolstering its relations with Ethiopia, especially in the areas of economy and investment, welcoming the UAE investments in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister also underlined that his countries is keen on boosting the UAE investments in Ethiopia, noting that Ethiopian government is seeking to develop the infrastructure to attract foreign investors.

The trade exchange between the UAE and Ethiopia during the first half of 2012 stood at about Dh760 million, while the UAE contributes to 80 per cent of the total inter trade. - Emirates News Agency, WAM